Toilet seat reducer

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat reducer includes a hub disposed on an underside of a lid of a conventional toilet seat, a toilet seat, and at least one pair of complementary magnets configured for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other. The toilet seat includes an aperture smaller than an opening in the conventional toilet seat, and the toilet seat is configured for mating with at least a portion of the conventional toilet seat. Each magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed on opposing locations on the hub and the toilet seat. The toilet seat reducer includes a flexible urine guard configured to collapse into at least a portion of the aperture of the toilet seat when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat and return to an un-collapsed state when the lid and the toilet seat are separated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant disclosure is directed to toilet seats. More specifically,the disclosure is directed to a toilet seat useable in conjunction witha conventional toilet seat for potty-training children.

SUMMARY

A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a toilet seat reducer includes ahub disposed on an underside of a lid of a conventional toilet seat, atoilet seat, and a pair of complementary magnets configured fordetachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other. In someembodiments, the toilet seat includes an aperture smaller than anopening in the conventional toilet seat, and the toilet seat isconfigured for mating with at least a portion of the conventional toiletseat. In some embodiments, each magnet of the pair of magnets isdisposed on opposing locations on the hub and the toilet seat.

Another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a toilet seat reducerincludes a hub and a toilet seat. In some embodiments, the hub includesopposing first and second sides and a perimetric wall disposed at aperiphery of at least a portion of the first side, and the toilet seatincludes opposing first and second sides and an aperture smaller than anopening in a conventional toilet seat, wherein the aperture is definedat least in part by a perimetric wall disposed at a periphery of atleast a portion of the first side and is configured for receiving atleast a portion of the perimetric wall of the hub. In certainembodiments, the second side of the hub is configured for coupling withan underside of a lid of the conventional toilet seat, the second sideof the toilet seat is configured for mating with at least a portion ofthe conventional toilet seat, and the perimetric wall of the hub and theperimetric wall of the toilet seat are configured for detachablycoupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the toilet seat reducer includesa flexible urine guard configured to collapse into at least a portion ofthe aperture of the toilet seat when the lid is lowered onto the toiletseat and return to an un-collapsed state when the lid and the toiletseat are separated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of atoilet seat reducer of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1 asviewed from the front;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1 asviewed from the rear;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another side view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom above;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom below;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1disposed on a conventional toilet illustrated in dashed lines; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment ofa urine guard for the toilet seat reducer of FIG. 1 illustrated in acollapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more non-limiting exemplary embodiments are disclosed herein withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicatelike, but not necessarily identical, elements. It should be clearlyunderstood that the embodiments described with reference to the drawingsare merely exemplary in that any one or more of them may be implementedin alternative manner as may become apparent to a person of ordinaryskills. The figures, wherein some features may have been exaggerated orminimized to illustrate details of particular components, are notnecessarily to scale. Specific structural and/or functional features anddetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butshould rather be treated as a basis for teaching one of ordinary skills.There is no intent, implied or otherwise, to limit the disclosure in anyway, shape or form to the embodiments illustrated and described herein.Accordingly, any and all variants for providing structures and/orfunctionalities similar to those described herein are considered asbeing within the metes and bounds of the instant disclosure.

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate various views of a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment of a toilet seat reducer 10 of the instant disclosure. FIG. 9illustrates the toilet seat reducer 10 disposed on a conventional toilet12 represented by dashed lines.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, in a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, thetoilet seat reducer 10 includes a hub 14 and a toilet seat 16. In someembodiments, the hub 14 is defined at least in part by opposing firstand second sides 18 and 20, respectively, and a perimetric wall 22disposed at an outer periphery 24 of at least a portion of the firstside 18. In some embodiments, the perimetric wall 22 may be disposed atan outer periphery of both the first and second sides 18 and 20, and mayextend from the first side 18 to the second side 20. In certainembodiments, the toilet seat 16 is defined at least in part by opposingfirst and second sides 26 and 28, respectively, and an aperture 30. Insome embodiments, the aperture 30 is defined at least in part by aperimetric wall 32 disposed at an inner periphery 34 of at least aportion of the first side 26 of the toilet seat 16. In some embodiments,the perimetric wall 32 may be disposed at an inner periphery of both thefirst and second sides 26 and 28, and may extend from the first side 26to the second side 28. In certain embodiments, the aperture 30 issmaller than an opening in a conventional toilet seat 36, and isconfigured for receiving at least a portion of the perimetric wall 22 ofthe hub 14.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the hub 14 is disposed on anunderside 38 of a lid 40 of the conventional toilet seat 36.Accordingly, in some embodiments, the second side 28 of the hub 14 isconfigured for fixedly or removably coupling with the underside 38. Forinstance, in certain embodiments, a two-sided tape (not shown) is usedfor attaching the hub 14 to the underside 38 of the lid 40. Other meansand/or manners of coupling the hub 14 to the underside 38 of the lid 40as may become apparent to one skilled in the art are considered to bewithin the metes and bounds of the instant disclosure. For example,other fastener types, in addition to or instead of tape, may be used tocouple the hub 14 to the underside 38.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the second side 28 of the toiletseat 16 is configured for mating with at least a portion of theconventional toilet seat 36. In some embodiments, the toilet seat 16 isconfigured to snugly fit over or mate with the conventional toilet seat36. In certain embodiments, the toilet seat 16 includes one or moresupport structures 52 extending away from the first side 26 of thetoilet seat 16. In some embodiments, the one or more support structures52 are configured to abut the rim of the opening in the conventionaltoilet seat 36. In certain embodiments, the second side 28 of the toiletseat 16 is configured for a snap fit on the conventional toilet seat 36.In some embodiments, the second side 28 is configured to ensure aslip-resistant coupling with the conventional toilet seat 36. Othermeans and/or manners of mating and/or coupling the toilet seat 16 withthe conventional toilet seat 36 as may become apparent to one skilled inthe art are considered to be within the metes and bounds of the instantdisclosure.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the hub 14 and the toilet seat16 are configured for detachably coupling with each other. Accordingly,in some embodiments, the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16 include one ormore pairs of complementary magnets 42 wherein the magnets 44 and 46 ofeach pair of magnets 42 are disposed on substantially opposing locationson the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16. In certain embodiments, themagnets 44 and 46 of the pair of complimentary magnets 42 are disposedon substantially opposite locations on the perimetric walls 22 and 32,respectively, of the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16. Accordingly, whenthe lid 40 is lowered over the toilet seat 16, the magnets 44 and 46detachably couple with each other whereby the hub 14 and the toilet seat16 are detachably coupled with each other. In some embodiments, the hub14 and/or toilet seat 16 may include a single magnet, instead of a pairof magnets 44, 46. In other embodiments, the hub 14 and/or toilet seat16 may include three, four, or more magnets. In addition to or insteadof magnets, in some embodiments, the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16 areconfigured with complementary connectors for detachably coupling the hub14 and the toilet seat 16 to each other. For instance, in certainembodiments, the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16 include complementarytabbed connectors or complementary snap connectors. In some embodiments,the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16 are configured for snug fitment, e.g.,frictional coupling, with each other. Other means and/or manners ofdetachably coupling the hub 14 and the toilet seat 16 with each other asmay become apparent to one skilled in the art are considered to bewithin the metes and bounds of the instant disclosure.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the hub 14 and the toilet seat16 detachably couple to each other when the lid 40 is lowered onto thetoilet seat 16. Consequently, the toilet seat 16 will be raised off theconventional toilet seat 36 when the lid 40 is raised if a user does notforcibly decouple the hub 14 from the toilet seat 16. In someembodiments, the toilet seat 16 will detach from the hub 14 when thetoilet seat 16 is lowered over the conventional toilet seat 36 while thelid 40 is restrained or held firmly by a user. In certain embodiments,the toilet seat 16 will detach from the hub 14 when the lid 40 is raisedwhile the toilet seat 16 is restrained or held firmly by a user.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the toilet seat 16 includes anoutwardly extending tab 48 configured for at least one of raising thetoilet seat 16, lowering the toilet seat 16, and restraining the toiletseat 16 such as for instance when de-coupling the hub 14 and the toiletseat 16 from each other. In some embodiments, the tab 48 is configuredfor removably attaching or coupling the toilet seat 16 to theconventional toilet seat 36. For instance, in certain embodiments, thetab 48 extends from an outer periphery of the toilet seat 16 and snapsover or onto an outer periphery of the conventional toilet seat 36.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the toilet seat reducer 10includes a substantially flexible urine guard 50 disposed on a frontsection of the toilet seat 16. In some embodiments, the urine guard 50is removably attached to or coupled with at least a portion of thetoilet seat 16. In certain embodiments, the urine guard 50 is anintegral component of, e.g., formed integrally with, the toilet seat 16.In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, such as for example illustratedin FIG. 10, at least a portion of the urine guard 50 collapses or bendsinto at least a portion of the aperture 30 of the toilet seat 16 whenthe lid 40 is lowered over the toilet seat 16. Consequently, in someembodiments, the urine guard 50 returns to an un-collapsed state whenthe lid 40 and the toilet seat 16 are separated, i.e., when the lid 40is raised away from the toilet seat 16. The urine guard 50 may be or mayinclude a compressible, resilient material, such as silicone, in someembodiments.

In view thereof, modified and/or alternate configurations of theembodiments described herein may become apparent or obvious to one ofordinary skill. All such variations are considered as being within themetes and bounds of the instant disclosure. For instance, whilereference may have been made to particular feature(s) and/orfunction(s), the disclosure is considered to also encompass any and allequivalents providing functionalities similar to those disclosed hereinwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the spirit,scope and intent of the instant disclosure is to embrace all suchvariations. Consequently, the metes and bounds of the instant disclosureare defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat reducer, comprising: a hub, comprising: opposing first and second sides; and a perimetric wall disposed at a periphery of at least a portion of the first side; and a toilet seat, comprising: opposing first and second sides; and an aperture smaller than an opening in a conventional toilet seat, the aperture defined at least in part by a perimetric wall disposed at a periphery of at least a portion of the first side and configured for receiving at least a portion of the perimetric wall of the hub; wherein, the second side of the hub is configured for coupling with an underside of a lid of the conventional toilet seat; the second side of the toilet seat is configured for mating with at least a portion of the conventional toilet seat; and the perimetric wall of the hub and the perimetric wall of the toilet seat are configured for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other.
 2. The toilet seat reducer of claim 1, wherein the hub and the toilet seat detachably couple to each other when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat.
 3. The toilet seat reducer of claim 2, wherein the toilet seat is raised off the conventional toilet seat when the lid is raised.
 4. The toilet seat reducer of claim 3, wherein the toilet seat detaches from the hub when the toilet seat is lowered while the lid is restrained by a user.
 5. The toilet seat reducer of claim 2, wherein the toilet seat detaches from the hub when the lid is raised while the toilet seat is restrained by a user.
 6. The toilet seat reducer of claim 1, wherein the toilet seat comprises an outwardly extending tab configured for at least one of raising the toilet seat, lowering the toilet seat, and restraining the toilet seat.
 7. The toilet seat reducer of claim 1, comprising at least one pair of complimentary magnets disposed on opposing sides of the perimetric wall of the hub and the perimetric wall of the toilet seat for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat.
 8. The toilet seat reducer of claim 1, comprising a flexible urine guard wherein, at least a portion of the urine guard collapses into at least a portion of the aperture when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat; and the urine guard returns to an un-collapsed state when the lid and the toilet seat are separated.
 9. A toilet seat reducer, comprising: a hub, comprising: opposing first and second sides; and a perimetric wall disposed at a periphery of at least a portion of the first side; and a toilet seat, comprising: opposing first and second sides; an aperture smaller than an opening in a conventional toilet seat, the aperture defined at least in part by a perimetric wall disposed at a periphery of at least a portion of the first side and configured for receiving at least a portion of the perimetric wall of the hub; and a urine guard; wherein, the second side of the hub is configured for coupling with an underside of a lid of the conventional toilet seat; the second side of the toilet seat is configured for mating with at least a portion of the conventional toilet seat; and the perimetric wall of the hub and the perimetric wall of the toilet seat are configured for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other.
 10. The toilet seat reducer of claim 9, wherein the hub and the toilet seat detachably couple to each other and at least a portion of the urine guard collapses into at least a portion of the aperture when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat.
 11. The toilet seat reducer of claim 10, wherein the toilet seat is raised off the conventional toilet seat when the lid is raised and wherein the hub detaches from the toilet seat and the urine guard returns to an un-collapsed state when the toilet seat is lowered while the lid is restrained by a user.
 12. The toilet seat reducer of claim 10, wherein the hub detaches from the toilet seat and the urine guard returns to an un-collapsed state when the lid is raised while the toilet seat is restrained by a user.
 13. The toilet seat reducer of claim 9, wherein the toilet seat comprises an outwardly extending tab configured for at least one of raising the toilet seat, lowering the toilet seat, and restraining the toilet seat.
 14. The toilet seat reducer of claim 9, comprising at least one pair of complimentary magnets disposed on opposing sides of the perimetric wall of the hub and the perimetric wall of the toilet seat for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other.
 15. A toilet seat reducer, comprising: a hub disposed on an underside of a lid of a conventional toilet seat; a toilet seat comprising an aperture smaller than an opening in the conventional toilet seat, the toilet seat configured for mating with at least a portion of the conventional toilet seat; and a pair of complementary magnets configured for detachably coupling the hub and the toilet seat to each other, wherein each magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed on opposing locations on the hub and the toilet seat.
 16. The toilet seat reducer of claim 15, comprising a flexible urine guard wherein, at least a portion of the urine guard collapses into at least a portion of the aperture when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat; and the urine guard returns to an un-collapsed state when the lid and the toilet seat are separated.
 17. The toilet seat reducer of claim 15, wherein the toilet seat comprises an outwardly extending tab configured for at least one of raising the toilet seat, lowering the toilet seat, and restraining the toilet seat.
 18. The toilet seat reducer of claim 16, wherein the hub and the toilet seat detachably couple to each other when the lid is lowered onto the toilet seat and wherein the toilet seat is raised off the conventional toilet seat when the lid is raised.
 19. The toilet seat reducer of claim 18, wherein the toilet seat and the hub detach from each other when the toilet seat is lowered while the lid is restrained by a user.
 20. The toilet seat reducer of claim 18, wherein the toilet seat and the hub detach from each other when the lid is raised while the toilet seat is restrained by a user. 